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Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will co-host the Oscars.

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AP

Brad Pitt, right, and director Quentin Tarantino attend a press conference for their latest film ‘Inglourious Basterds’ in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says the two Hollywood veterans will share hosting duties at the 82nd Academy Awards ceremony.

Telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman said in a statement the two actors are "the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars."

Martin has hosted twice before, in 2001 and 2003, and has appeared as a presenter several times. Baldwin is a first-timer. Baldwin, 51, who stars on NBC's 30 Rock, called the Oscar gig "the opportunity of a lifetime." He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003 for his supporting role in The Cooler.

Martin said that he is "happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin."

The 82nd Academy Awards will be presented March 7 at the Kodak Theatre.

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Brad Pitt says he is in the market for a new motorcycle.

The actor, in Tokyo to promote his latest movie, Inglourious Basterds, said he trashed his bike recently while trying to escape overzealous photographers.

"I had a little mishap," he said. "No injuries, except my ego. I was trying to get away from some paparazzi and instead gave them a good story. It was my favourite bike, so that is really sad."

Pitt, a well-known motorcycle buff, was involved in a minor accident in Los Angeles last month after a paparazzo reportedly cut him off in traffic. He said that while he is in Tokyo he will be looking for a replacement.

"I will definitely be looking at motorcycles," he said. "You've got some of the best builders right here."

*****

Sarah Palin's book tour is a gift for her base. No stops are planned in Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and other major cities and book-buying communities that are standard for authors on the road, but where voters tend to be Democrats.

Beyond a Nov. 16 television interview with Oprah Winfrey, nothing is scheduled for Chicago. New York will feature media appearances only. Instead, the itinerary for Palin, whose Going Rogue comes out Nov. 17, includes Noblesville, Ind.; Washington, Pa.; and Rochester, N.Y.

"She wants to be unconventional. She is unconventional," HarperCollins spokeswoman Tina Andreadis said Wednesday. "She feels like this is where her fans are and Harper feels this is where she'll sell the most books."

Going Rogue has an announced first printing of 1.5 million copies and has been at or near the top of Amazon.com's best-seller list for weeks.

On Wednesday, ABC News announced that Barbara Walters would interview Palin, to air in five parts over three ABC News broadcasts - Good Morning America, Nightline and 20/20, starting the morning of publication day.

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Kirstie Alley is going to star in a new A&E reality "docu-series" about her life as a single mom and her efforts to lose weight. The network has ordered 10 half-hour episodes of the untitled series from American Idol producer FremantleMedia North America. The show will follow the actress at home with her teenage children, at work and as she launches a new weight-loss program.

The 58-year-old Alley, who starred in the sitcoms Veronica's Closet and Cheers, appeared in the 2005 Showtime comedy series Fat Actress. She played a version of herself coping with Hollywood's fixation on thinness.